स सूतो राममादाय लक्ष्मणं मैथिलीं तथा। जगामाभिमुखस्तूर्णं सकाशं जगतीपतेः
That charioteer, taking Rama, Lakshmana, and also Maithili, quickly went towards the presence of the lord of the earth.
स राजा पुत्रमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा चारात् कृताञ्जलिम्। उत्पपातासनात् तूर्णमार्तः स्त्रीजनसंवृतः
The king, seeing his son approaching with joined palms, rose swiftly from his seat, distressed and surrounded by women.
सोऽभिदुद्राव वेगेन रामं दृष्ट्वा विशाम्पतिः। तमसम्प्राप्य दुःखार्तः पपात भुवि मूर्च्छितः
The lord of men, seeing Rama, rushed towards him with speed; overcome by grief, he reached him and fell to the ground unconscious.
तं रामोऽभ्यपतत् क्षिप्रं लक्ष्मणश्च महारथः। विसंज्ञमिव दुःखेन सशोकं नृपतिं तथा
Rama and the mighty Lakshmana quickly approached the king, who was thus afflicted by sorrow and seemed senseless.
स्त्रीसहस्रनिनादश्च संजज्ञे राजवेश्मनि। हा हा रामेति सहसा भूषणध्वनिमिश्रितः
A tumult of thousands of women arose in the royal palace, suddenly crying 'Alas, Rama!' mingled with the sound of ornaments.
तं परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। पर्यङ्के सीतया सार्धं रुदन्तः समवेशयन्
Embracing both Rama and Lakshmana with his arms, they, together with Sita, placed him, weeping, on the couch.
अथ रामो मुहूर्तस्य लब्धसंज्ञं महीपतिम्। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्बाष्पशोकार्णवपरिप्लुतम्
Then Rama, after a moment, seeing the king regain consciousness, with joined palms and overwhelmed by an ocean of tears and grief, spoke:
आपृच्छे त्वां महाराज सर्वेषामीश्वरोऽसि नः। प्रस्थितं दण्डकारण्यं पश्य त्वं कुशलेन माम्
I take leave of you, great king, lord of us all; as I depart for the Dandaka forest, may you see me safe.
लक्ष्मणं चानुजानीहि सीता चान्वेतु मां वनम्। कारणैर्बहुभिस्तथ्यैर्वार्यमाणौ न चेच्छतः
Grant permission to Lakshmana, and let Sita follow me to the forest; though restrained by many true reasons, they do not wish to stay.
अनुजानीहि सर्वान् नः शोकमुत्सृज्य मानद। लक्ष्मणं मां च सीतां च प्रजापतिरिवात्मजान्
Grant permission to all of us, O giver of honor, casting off your grief—Lakshmana, myself, and Sita, as the Lord of creatures does for his children.
प्रतीक्षमाणमव्यग्रमनुज्ञां जगतीपतेः। उवाच राजा सम्प्रेक्ष्य वनवासाय राघवम्
As Rama, awaiting the king's untroubled consent, looked on, the king spoke to him regarding his dwelling in the forest.
अहं राघव कैकेय्या वरदानेन मोहितः। अयोध्यायां त्वमेवाद्य भव राजा निगृह्य माम्
O Raghava, deluded by Kaikeyi's boon, I have been bound; you alone today should be king in Ayodhya, restraining me.
एवमुक्तो नृपतिना रामो धर्मभृतां वरः। प्रत्युवाचाञ्जलिं कृत्वा पितरं वाक्यकोविदः
Thus addressed by the king, Rama, best of the righteous, made obeisance with joined palms and replied skillfully to his father:
भवान् वर्षसहस्राय पृथिव्या नृपते पतिः। अहं त्वरण्ये वत्स्यामि न मे राज्यस्य कांक्षिता
You, O king, should rule the earth for a thousand years; I will dwell in the forest, desiring no kingdom.
नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि वनवासे विहृत्य ते। पुनः पादौ ग्रहीष्यामि प्रतिज्ञान्ते नराधिप
After spending fourteen years in the forest, I will again clasp your feet, O lord of men, at the end of my vow.
रुदन्नार्तः प्रियं पुत्रं सत्यपाशेन संयुतः। कैकेय्या चोद्यमानस्तु मिथो राजा तमब्रवीत्
Weeping, distressed, bound by the fetter of truth, and urged by Kaikeyi, the king spoke to his beloved son.
श्रेयसे वृद्धये तात पुनरागमनाय च। गच्छस्वारिष्टमव्यग्रः पन्थानमकुतोभयम्
For your welfare, growth, and return, dear father, go without anxiety on a safe and unobstructed path.
न हि सत्यात्मनस्तात धर्माभिमनसस्तव। संनिवर्तयितुं बुद्धिः शक्यते रघुनन्दन
Indeed, O delight of the Raghus, it is not possible to turn back the resolve of one such as you, whose mind is set on truth and righteousness.
अद्य त्विदानीं रजनीं पुत्र मा गच्छ सर्वथा। एकाहं दर्शनेनापि साधु तावच्चराम्यहम्
But now, my son, do not go tonight under any circumstances; let me spend at least this one day in your presence.
दुष्करं क्रियते पुत्र सर्वथा राघव प्रिय। त्वया हि मत्प्रियार्थं तु वनमेवमुपाश्रितम्
What you are doing, beloved Rāghava, is truly difficult; for my sake, you have taken up the forest life in this way.
न चैतन्मे प्रियं पुत्र शपे सत्येन राघव। छन्नया चलितस्त्वस्मि स्त्रिया भस्माग्निकल्पया
But this does not please me, my son—by truth I swear, O Rāghava; I have been deceived by a woman as destructive as fire covered in ashes.
वञ्चना या तु लब्धा मे तां त्वं निस्तर्तुमिच्छसि। अनया वृत्तसादिन्या कैकेय्याभिप्रचोदितः
The deception that has befallen me, you wish to overcome, being urged by Kaikeyī, who is steadfast in her resolve but unrighteous in conduct.
न चैतदाश्चर्यतमं यत् त्वं ज्येष्ठः सुतो मम। अपानृतकथं पुत्र पितरं कर्तुमिच्छसि
Nor is it most astonishing, my son, that you, my eldest, wish to keep your father free from falsehood.
अथ रामस्तदा श्रुत्वा पितुरार्तस्य भाषितम्। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा दीनो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Rāma, having heard his distressed father's words, spoke sorrowfully to his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
प्राप्स्यामि यानद्य गुणान् को मे श्वस्तान् प्रदास्यति। अपक्रमणमेवातः सर्वकामैरहं वृणे
What virtues will I gain today, and who will grant them to me tomorrow? Therefore, I choose only to depart, renouncing all desires.
इयं सराष्ट्रा सजना धनधान्यसमाकुला। मया विसृष्टा वसुधा भरताय प्रदीयताम्
This earth, with its provinces, people, wealth, and grain, I relinquish; let it be given to Bharata.
वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्न च मेऽद्य चलिष्यति। यस्तु युद्धे वरो दत्तः कैकेय्यै वरद त्वया
My resolve to dwell in the forest will not waver today; the boon you granted to Kaikeyī in battle, O bestower of boons, must be fulfilled.
दीयतां निखिलेनैव सत्यस्त्वं भव पार्थिव। अहं निदेशं भवतो यथोक्तमनुपालयन्
Let it be given in full—be true to your word, O king; I will carry out your command exactly as spoken.
चतुर्दश समा वत्स्ये वने वनचरैः सह। मा विमर्शो वसुमती भरताय प्रदीयताम्
I will dwell in the forest for fourteen years with the forest-dwellers; do not hesitate—let the earth be given to Bharata.
नहि मे कांक्षितं राज्यं सुखमात्मनि वा प्रियम्। यथानिदेशं कर्तुं वै तवैव रघुनन्दन
I do not desire the kingdom, nor happiness, nor anything dear to myself, as much as I wish to carry out your command, O delight of the Raghus.